Pathophysiology Case Analyzation of Tumor - Essay Example

Pathophysiology case analysis of tumor: How would you determine the stage of tumor? It remains general consensus among all physicians that all breast tumors up to 2cm in size fall into category/stage 2 of breast cancer. In fact, measured tumors which fall between the scale range of 2-5cm are essentially characterized as stage 2 breast cancer. Furthermore, tumor stage can also be identified by carefully assessing the length by which the cancerous cells have spread in the breast because in stage 2, cancerous cells are not yet seen infiltrating the surrounding organs as they still remain largely limited to the breast itself.

In this regards, blood tests, chest x-ray, and bone scan should be done to identify if the cancer has metastasized to any other body part because if it turns out that it has not and it also appears to be of 2cm in size, then it should essentially be a stage 2 breast cancer. Why would the doctor select the particular diagnostic tests?In the case of a woman diagnosed with a tumor of 2cm in size in her left breast, the doctor most probably would detect particular tests as ultrasound scan and needle biopsy because both these tests hold fundamental importance in breast cancer imaging and analysis of cancerous cells.

The doctor would order ultrasound scan of the breast because it used sound waves to create image of the breast interior which can help immensely in localizing the site of tumor in addition to providing information about if the cancerous cells have yet spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit or not. A high resolution breast cancer image produced by a good ultrasound scan is very good at revealing small invasive tumors. Needle biopsy is also a valuable tool which can help determine the difference between malignant and non-malignant breast cells.

It should always be done because a lump may be noticed but it may also turn out to be fibrous and harmless. Why might the doctor recommend chemotherapy? Clinical trials including chemotherapy are open to woman who gets diagnosed with a stage 2 breast cancer. A doctor might recommend chemotherapy so that the tumor could be reduced to a smaller size and made suitable for breast-conserving surgery which suits only small sized earlier stage cancers. Chemotherapy might also be advised so that the tumor could be suppressed and kept from maturing into a fully vibrant and extremely progressive cancer which could infiltrate neighboring lymph nodes, organs, bones.

Radiation therapy such as chemotherapy essentially applies to stage 2 cancers so that the tumor could be forced to shrink enough in order to avoid mastectomy. Which self-examination techniques might have aided an earlier detection of the tumor? Breast self exam includes the method of standing opposite to mirror with one arm held overhead and assessing the breast with the help of other hand and eyes in order to feel the consistency, shape, and symmetry of the breast in addition to noticing if or not there exits a hard nodule or mass which could be differentiated from rest of the breast tissue by holding it between the thumb and finger.

Also, the breast palpation process to feel any possible lump should last to the axilla so that the axillary tail of breast could also be covered. This should be done while both standing against the mirror and then in the lying position.